Paddling in Crowdy Bay National Park

Crowdy Bay National Park sits on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, roughly between Port Macquarie and Taree, where a long stretch of coastal terrain holds both ocean frontage and the quieter inland waterways that feed into it.

The paddling here is flatwater and tidal — estuaries, lakes, and rivers rather than whitewater — shaped by the same geography that makes this a coastal park. The Camden Haven River is the anchor water.

The AllTrails route clocks the Camden Haven River Paddle at around 17 kilometres, making it the longest paddle route documented in the park. Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are all appropriate craft for this kind of moving tidal water.

The river connects to the Camden Haven Inlet, which opens the route toward the coast and adds tidal influence to trip planning — timing your paddle with the tide rather than against it matters here.

Watson Taylors Lake, Stewarts River, and Cattai Creek round out the paddleable waters within or adjacent to the park boundary, each offering the kind of sheltered, low-gradient paddling that suits touring and exploring over covering distance fast.

Because this is a NSW National Park, paddlers should check with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for any current access conditions, closures, or permit requirements before launching.

The park sits in a living coastal ecosystem — the same one the Birpai People have used for over 6,000 years — and how you move through it matters as much as where you go.

Come in knowing the tides, bring your own gear, and leave the estuary the way you found it.